AIR@MBC To Feature Madison Beach Club's Sleek, Fast Atlantic Fleet July 14, 15

The Atlantic Invitational Regatta will be hosted by the Madison Beach Club on July 14 and July 15.

Also known as the AIR @ MBC, the inaugural event will feature the Atlantic one design, classic 30' keel boats sailed mostly in New England that were first built in 1929, according to Barb Coster.

"Madison Beach Club currently has five in its fleet and that number is increasing each year," Coster said. "We expect 10 more boats from Niantic Bay Yacht Club and Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport to join us for the inaugural AIR@MBC regatta. Next year we are hosting the Nationals! All the sailing will take place between the Madison Beach Club and Faulkner’s Island."

Coster's husband, Rob Coster, grew up sailing Atlantics and is a former National Champion. Their son, Rory, skippered their boat to a sixth place finish at Nationals and went on to win the Annual Joe Olsen Memorial Award for the Top Newcomer in the fleet. The award, in fact, is named after the man who taught Rory's dad how to sail, Barb says. "The sailors have a lot of Atlantic sea stories to tell and retell, and retell," she said.

"Here is a link to the Atlantic website to become familiar with the class: http://www.atlanticclass.org/ . You can click on the link to read more about the 2 day regatta we will be hosting at MBC. These boats are majestic at full sail and will be quite a sight to see," Coster said.

Sarah Davidson, the regatta chairperson, said the schedule is subject to change based on the weather and wind, "or lack thereof," but the plan is to have the first race start around 10:30 a.m. Saturday. There will be sailing all day Saturday and the race is scheduled to end around 2 p.m. Sunday.

"The best viewing will be from the Surf Club," Davidson said. "The Atlantic is an elegant and sleek 30' one design boat. The shoreline will never look as pretty as when they are all sailing downwind with their colorful spinnakers set."

Davidson said if anyone decides to watch from the water, they should be sure to stay clear of the race course.